Jena Bishop
| Jena Bishop | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jena Rae Bishop February 22, 1986 St. Charles, Missouri, United States |
| Residence | San Diego, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg) |
| Division | Women's flyweight |
| Reach | 65.5 in (166 cm) |
| Style | Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Mixed martial arts |
| Fighting out of | San Diego, California, United States |
| Team | Alliance Jiu-Jitsu San Diego |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 11 |
| Wins | 9 |
| By knockout | 0 |
| By submission | 6 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 2 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 0 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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Jena Rae Bishop (born February 22, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion who competes in the women's flyweight division.[1] She currently holds a 9–2 professional MMA record and is scheduled to compete for the Professional Fighters League flyweight championship following her semifinal victory on June 20, 2025.[2] Bishop represents Alliance Jiu-Jitsu San Diego and is recognized as one of the most accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners to transition into professional mixed martial arts.[3]
Early life and Brazilian jiu-jitsu career
Jena Rae Bishop was born on February 22, 1986, in St. Charles, Missouri.[3] During high school, she participated in track and field and cross country running, excelling in sprinting distances.[3] Bishop began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu in November 2007 at age 21, influenced by her then-boyfriend, now husband Tyler Bishop.[3] She received all her belt promotions from white to black belt under instructor JW Wright at his Gracie Humaitá school in Missouri, earning her black belt on July 13, 2013.[3]
Brazilian jiu-jitsu achievements
Bishop achieved world-class status in Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition, earning multiple championship titles.[3] Her major accomplishments include:
Major championships:
- IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2017) – 1st Place[3]
- IBJJF World Masters Championship (2017) – 1st Place (Weight and Absolute)[3]
- ADCC EC USA Trials (2019) – 1st Place[3]
- USAJJF/IBJJF American Nationals (2017) – 1st Place[3]
- IBJJF Pan Championship (2017) – 1st Place[3]
- IBJJF European Open (2017) – 1st Place[3]
She is an 11-time IBJJF World Championship medalist and achieved podium finishes across multiple years of competition.[3] In 2016, Bishop and her husband moved to San Diego, California, to train in one of the world's premier Brazilian jiu-jitsu hubs and work with elite coaches including Regis Lebre.[3]
Mixed martial arts career
Early professional career (2021–2022)
Bishop transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2021 at age 35, making her professional debut on October 22, 2021, against Helen Lucero at LFA 116.[1] She won via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[1] Bishop compiled a 4–0 record competing exclusively for Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA), establishing herself as a top flyweight prospect with two submission victories and two decision wins.[1]
Bellator MMA (2023)
In October 2022, Bishop signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA.[4] She made her Bellator debut at Bellator 291 on February 25, 2023, defeating Elina Kallionidou by unanimous decision.[1] Bishop then defeated Ilara Joanne at Bellator 300 on October 7, 2023, via first-round armbar submission.[1]
Professional Fighters League (2024–present)
Bishop joined the PFL in 2024, competing in the women's flyweight tournament.[5] She began the season with a first-round armbar submission victory over Chelsea Hackett on April 4, 2024.[1] Bishop then suffered her first professional loss to Taila Santos via split decision on June 13, 2024.[1] In the 2024 PFL Playoffs semifinals, she lost to eventual champion Dakota Ditcheva via first-round TKO on August 2, 2024.[1]
2025 PFL World Tournament
Bishop returned for the 2025 PFL World Tournament, defeating Kana Watanabe by unanimous decision on April 11, 2025.[1] She advanced to the semifinals, where she faced Ekaterina Shakalova on June 20, 2025, winning via rear-naked choke submission in the second round to secure her place in the PFL flyweight championship final.[2] The semifinal victory received substantial media coverage, with Bishop demonstrating her elite grappling skills throughout the contest.[2]
Fighting style and training
Bishop is known for her elite grappling skills, with six of her nine professional victories coming by submission.[1] Her Brazilian jiu-jitsu world championship background provides her with significant advantages on the ground, and she has demonstrated improved striking throughout her MMA career.[6] Bishop has been a black belt for over 11 years and was encouraged to pursue MMA by former UFC title challenger Cat Zingano.[6] She trains at Alliance Jiu-Jitsu San Diego under the guidance of world-class instructors.[4]
Personal life
Bishop is married to Tyler Bishop, also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and popular grappling sports commentator.[3] The couple's relationship developed alongside their Brazilian jiu-jitsu journey, marrying by the time they reached blue belt rank.[3] They reside in San Diego, California, where Jena trains full-time.[3]
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 11 matches | 9 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| By submission | 6 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 1 |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 9–2 | Ekaterina Shakalova | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PFL 2025: World Tournament 6 | June 20, 2025 | 2 | 2:07 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Kana Watanabe | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 2025: World Tournament 2 | April 11, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 7–2 | Dakota Ditcheva | TKO (front kick and punch) | PFL 7: 2024 Playoffs | August 2, 2024 | 1 | 3:54 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Taila Santos | Decision (split) | PFL 4: 2024 Regular Season | June 13, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Chelsea Hackett | Submission (armbar) | PFL 1: 2024 Regular Season | April 4, 2024 | 1 | 4:15 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Ilara Joanne | Submission (armbar) | Bellator 300 | October 7, 2023 | 1 | 2:45 | San Diego, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Elina Kallionidou | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 291 | February 25, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Win | 4–0 | Olivia Beeskau | Submission (rear-naked choke) | LFA 145 | October 21, 2022 | 1 | 2:02 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Luana Santos | Decision (split) | LFA 135 | July 8, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Dione Barbosa | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 118 | November 12, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Helen Lucero | Submission (rear-naked choke) | LFA 116 | October 22, 2021 | 1 | 3:38 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States |
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 "Jena Bishop". Sherdog. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "2025 PFL 6 video: Jena Bishop uses slick BJJ skillset to tap". MMA Junkie. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 "Jena Bishop". BJJ Heroes. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Bellator MMA Inks LFA Vet Jena Bishop to Multi-Fight Deal". Cageside Press. October 28, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ↑ "Jena Bishop - Women's Flyweight". Professional Fighters League. June 21, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "The Underdog". Ringside Intel. July 28, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
External links
- Professional MMA record for Jena Bishop from SherdogLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 23: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Jena Bishop at ESPN
This article "Jena Bishop" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Jena Bishop. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- 1986 births
- American female mixed martial artists
- Mixed martial artists from Missouri
- Mixed martial artists from California
- American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Female Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners
- People from St. Charles, Missouri
- Flyweight mixed martial artists
- Professional Fighters League fighters
- Bellator MMA fighters
